TMJ Disorders

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Overview

If you're noticing pain in your jaw or face, locked jaw or popping sounds, you likely have a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Physical therapy can help patients avoid surgery, recover from surgery for TMD and help to manage chronic pain associated with TMD.

What are Temporomandibular Joint Disorders?

TMD strains the joint that connects the skull to the lower jaw, as well as nearby muscles and nerves. TMDs can happen due to injury, arthritis, grinding/clenching, stress or an improper bite.

These little joints can cause big problems. Some estimates suggest 10 million Americans have TMD. Over time, TMD can cause facial, neck, head and ear pain. It can also limit how much you move your neck and open your mouth, and make chewing painful.

Fortunately, our physical therapists at Luminis Health can help you regain mobility and live free of TMD pain.

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Why Rely on Us to Treat Your TMD?

When TMD disrupts your life, we're committed to getting you back to a better place. Additional reasons why you should trust us for your care include:

The physical therapists in our TMD program don't just concentrate on treating these conditions — they've taken advanced training to become certified TMD therapists. And we work hard to keep up with the latest research in the field.

Our specialized physical therapists often work with speech language pathologists to treat related issues.

No two people with TMD are exactly alike. We can tailor a treatment plan to meet your individual needs.

We have satellite clinics, so you can choose the location closest to your home or workplace.

How Does Physical Therapy Help With TMD?

We do a thorough assessment to determine the severity of TMD, including how it affects jaw and neck movement.

As the muscles around the joint are connected to muscles in the front and back of the neck, we help you to improve your posture. While your mother may have told you to "straighten up," your therapist can help you with techniques that work.

Your physical therapist uses techniques to encourage your jaw into the correct position. But our goal is to solve the underlying reason for the TMD to help you avoid it in the future. We explain why your symptoms are happening and teach you lifestyle changes and exercises.

Between sessions, you have a home exercise program to help you support the muscles in the jaw and neck area. You also learn pain management techniques, like massage.

Over time, you'll notice a major improvement in your ability to move your jaw and neck as your pain subsides. The best part? Your new knowledge and techniques last a lifetime.

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